Bicycle-support.



No. 635,873. Patented Oct. 3|, I899.

- E. B. SHEARER.

BICYCLE SUPPORT.

(Application filed Apr. 15, 1899.) (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

EDWARD B. SHEARER, OF VAN VLEET, MISSISSIPPI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TOJOHN A. BARNETT, OF SAME PLACE.

BICYCLE-SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,873, dated October31, 1899.

Application filed April 15, 1899. Serial No. 713,182. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD B. SHEARER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Van Vleet, in the county of Chickasaw and State ofMississippi, have-invented a new and useful Bicycle-Support, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to bicycle-supports of that class which arecarried upon the frame of the bicycle in readiness for use at all times,and has for its object to provide a simple and improved device which isadapted to be mounted upon the front forks of a bicycle in convenientreach of the rider and capable of supporting the bicycle while the riderremains seated thereon.

To this end the present invention consists in the combination andarrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shownin the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of a bicyclehaving the improved support applied thereto and elevated, as when not inuse. Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing the device in engagement withthe ground and supporting the bicycle. Fig. 3 is a detail perspectiveview of one of the clamps to which the legs are pivotally swung. Fig. 4.is a detail perspective view of the guide and catch for theoperating-rod. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line wm, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a similar view, the legs being in elevatedposition.

Corresponding parts are designated by like reference characters in allthe figures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates the head-tube, and2 the front forks of a bicycle of common or ordinary form, this portionof the frame thereof being shown in the drawings to facilitate theunderstanding of the invention as hereinafter described.

The leg-standards of the device are formed from a single rod or bar ofmetal bent intermediate of its ends, forming the opposite legs 3, whichare disposed in the same transverse plane. The bend between the legsforms a tongue 4, which is deflected forward away from the head-tube ofthe bicycle, and each leg at its upper end is twisted into a springcoil5. Each leg is provided intermediate of its ends with a link 6, suitablypivoted to the leg and supported upon a clamp 7, provided upon theadjacent member of the front forks of the bicycle-frame. As illustratedin Fig. 3, the clamp comprises two duplicate members, each of which isin a single piece having the bowed half-band portion 8, provided with anear 9 upon one side and the straight spring-- wing 10 at the oppositeside. Two such members are assembled together, having their bowed bandportions embracing the respective member of the fork 2, and suitablebolts or screws 11 are passed through the opposite ears 9 and the Wings10 close to the band portion and upon opposite sides of the fork member,whereby the clamp is fitted to the latter. The wings 10 are adaptedto'be spaced apart and extend outward from the forks in oppositedirections. The links 6, which are carried by the legs, are receivedbetween the wings of the respective clamps 7 and are pivoted to the bolt11, which passes through the wings. It will be understood that as thelinks 6 are pivoted at opposite ends to the legs and to the clamps 7,respectively, the legs are capable of avertical movement upon thepivotal connection of the links, with the forks as a center. Byreference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that when the device is not in usethe legs are drawn upward and the links assume a vertical positionalongside of the forks 2 and the legs are drawn inward thereby, alsoalongside of the forks, being received between the wings of therespective clamps 7, whereby the legs are held against beingaccidentally thrown downwardinto engagement with the ground. Theelevated position of the legs just described is that in which the deviceis placed when the bicycle is being ridden and the support is not inuse.

To throw the device into position for use, the rider presses downwardupon the bend or tongue 4, which forces the legs downward, and as thelinks fall outward the legs are spread apart until the links assume ahorizontal position, extending outward and clamped between the Wings 10of the clamp 7. In this position the lower ends of the legs are engagedwith the ground and spread apart to afford a stable support, and thelinks are braced against front or rear strain bybeing. held between thewings of the clamps, and they also effectively hold the legs spreadapart. When the legs are drawn upward by means of the bend 4, the linksdraw the legs inward into engagement with the clamps, as hereinbeforedescribed. It is preferable to provide each leg at its lower end with aroller 12, so that the bicycle may not be stopped suddenly upon loweringthe support into position for use. The spring-coils 5 are to afiord ayielding movement to the legs in order that the latter may yield whenthey first strike the ground, and thereby prevent damage or breakagethereof.

An operating-rod 13 is connected to the bend a of the legs and extendsupward alongside the front side of the head-tube 1 within convenientreach of the rider, where it is provided with a suitable handle 14(shown in the drawings) by twisting the end of the rod into an eye. Therod passes through a guide 15, carried by the head-tube near the upperreachbar of the frame of the bicycle. This guide is shown most clearlyin Fig. 4 and comprises a hollow tube 15, through which the operatingrodpasses, and a clamp or split sleeve 16, having opposite ears or flanges17, through which are adapted to pass fastenings 18, whereby the guidemay be clamped upon thehead-tube of the bicycle-frame. A portion of oneside of the guide-tube is cut away, as at 19, and a spring-catch 20 isprovided upon the clamp and adapted to extend into the opening 19,provided through the guide-tube. The operating-rod 13 is provided with anotch 21 in one side thereof, which is adapted to be exposed through theopening 19 in the guidetube, and the spring-catch 20 is adapted toautomatically spring into engagement therewith when the legs of thedevice are thrown downward and hold the same in its operative position.The extremity of the latch is provided with a suitable thumb-piece21-,whereby the catch may be disengaged from the operating-rod wheneverit is desired to elevate the legs of the support.

The present invention provides an exceedingly practical and effectivedevice, as it may he applied to any of the common or wellknown types ofbicycles without changing or altering the frame thereof. It maybequickly fittedin place to the front forks in convenient reach of therider, and the leg-standards are effectively braced and held steady ineither the operative or inoperative positions thereof. The clamps 7, towhich the leg-standards are connected by means of the link 6, are alsocapable of use as coasters, as the wings 10 are made long enough andproject beyond the legstandards when the latter are elevated.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details ofconstruction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit or sacrifieing any of the advantagesof the present invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In abicycle-support, the combination with opposite leg-standards, of clampsprovided upon the frame of the bicycle and having spaced wings, andlinks pivotally connecting the leg-standards to the respective clamps,each link being pivoted at its outer end to one of the leg-standards,and at its inner end to and between the wings of the adjacent clamp, theleg-standards being located transversely between and braced by the wingsof the clamps, in the inoperative position of the device, and the linksbeing located lon= gitudinally between and braced by the wings of theclamps, in the operative position of the device, substantially as shownand described.

2. In a bicycle -support, the combination with opposite leg-standards,of clamps fitted to the front forks of the bicycle, and comprisingopposite members having wings, and fastenings to clamp the members onthe forks, and links pivotally connecting the leg-standards to theclamps, each link being pivoted at its outer end to one of theleg-standards, and at its other end between the wings of the adjacentclamp and to one of the fastenings thereof, the leg-standards beinglocated transversely between and held by the wings of the clamps, in theinoperative position of the device, and the links being located longitndinally between and braced by the wings, in the operative position ofthe device, substan= tially as shown and described.

3. In a bicycle -support, the combination with opposite leg-standards,of clamps provided upon the front forks of the bicycle, each clamphaving a pair of outwardly-extending wings forming a coaster, and linkspivotally connecting the leg-standards to the clamps, each link beingpivoted at its outer end to one of the leg-standards, and at its innerend to and between the wings of the adjacent clamp, the leg-standardsbeing located transversely between and braced by the wings, in theinoperative position of the device, and the links beinglocatedlongitudinally between and braced by the wings, in the operativeposition of the device, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a bicycle-support, the combination of opposite leg-standards bentfrom a single length of material, the bend intermediate of the legsbeing deflected and forming a hand operating portion, each leg having aspringcoil twisted therein, and links pivoted to the leg-standards andto the frame of the bicycle, the spring-coils being located between thelinks and the hand operating portion of the device, and imparting ayielding motion thereto, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a bicycle-support, the combination with a pair of oppositeleg-standards having avertical movement, of anuprightoperatingoperating-rod, substantially as and for the IO rodconnected to the leg-standards, and a 'purpose set forth. h

guide for the operating-rod, comprising a In testimony that I claim theforegoing as split sleeve fitted to the head-tube of the bimy own I havehereto affixed my signature in cycle, and carrying a fixed guide-tubehaving the presence of two witnesses.

a lateral opening formed therein, and a EDWARD B. SI-IEARER.spring-catch mounted upon the split sleeve, Witnesses:

received within the opening in the guide-tube, H. F. WALLER,

and adapted to engage a notch formed in the J. M. MAYO.

